Manchester United Ease into Carling Cup Final

byDavidonJanuary 20, 2009

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Manchester United beat Derby County 4-2 at Old Trafford (4-3 on aggregate) to book their place in the Carling Cup Final on March 1st. In all likelihood their opponents will be Tottenham Hotspur, who will be guaranteed a UEFA Cup place next season regardless of the cup final result. Buy Carling Cup Final Tickets

United quickly overcame their one goal deficit from the first leg with three goals within 35 minutes from Nani, O’Shea and Tevez. The first goal came after 16 minutes when Nani struck a stunning 30-yarder drive into the top corner of Roy Carroll’s net.

O’Shea doubled the lead six minutes later when he waltzed into the Rams box and coolly slotted in. The game looked to be over before half time when Tevez grabbed a third heading home Rafael Da Silva’s dinked cross with ease.

Those goals seemed to have endured United’s path to Wembley, but Derby made it interesting in the last ten minutes when Jonny Evans brought down Paul Green in the area and Barnes converted the penalty. United answered back when Tevez broke through on goal and was fouled by Rams keeper Carroll. Sub Cristiano Ronaldo tucked in the spot kick before Barnes added his second with a curling free-kick in injury time. Buy Carling Cup Final Tickets

Man United are still on track for an incredible five trophies this year. They have already picked up the Club World Cup and tonights win puts them at Wembley with the chance to add another piece of silverware to their collection. No English team has ever won more than three trophies in one year. The biggest challenge to United’s quest for five will be in the Champions League where they face Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan in a two-legged second-round encounter either side of the Carling Cup final.